Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Transcutaneous Radiofrequency in Postherpetic Neuralgia

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

• Ages 18 to 80 years
• All sexes
• No healthy volunteers
• Adult, Older adult

Study population: Patients aged 18 to 80 years diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia involving cervical, thoracic, or lumbar dermatomes who underwent either ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block or transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment as part of routine clinical care. Patients were included if they had persistent pain despite conservative treatment and a baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score greater than 5. All treatments were completed prior to study enrollment, and no changes were made to clinical management for research purposes.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

About this study

Official title: Which Is More Effective in the Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia: Erector Spinae Plane Block or Transcutaneous Radiofrequency?

Conditions

Postherpetic Neuralgia, Neuropathic Pain, Herpes Zoster

Being tested

Erector Spinae Plane Block

Keywords

postherpetic neuralgia, esp block, transcutaneous rf

Medical subject headings

Neuralgia, Postherpetic, Neuralgia, Herpes Zoster

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

• Erector Spinae Plane BlockProcedure or surgery

  Also called Transcutaneous Radiofrequency

  1. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed under sterile conditions as part of routine clinical care. After skin antisepsis, a 22-G spinal needle was advanced to the erector spinae plane at the level corresponding to the affected dermatome, and a total volume of 10 mL consisting of dexamethasone, bupivacaine, and normal saline was injected. Patients were observed post-procedure according to standard clinical practice.
  2. Transcutaneous radiofrequency treatment applied adjacent to the affected dermatome as part of routine clinical care. Adhesive surface electrodes were placed over the painful area, and pulsed electrical stimulation was delivered by the device for 10 minutes per session. The procedure was performed once weekly for two sessions, without any modification for research purposes.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

1. VAS

   Pain intensity assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS): is a simple tool used in clinical trials to measure pain intensity. Patients rate their pain on a scale, typically from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). It provides a quick, quantitative assessment of subjective pain and is commonly used to evaluate treatment effectiveness before and after intervention.

   Measured: Baseline, post-procedure 1 month

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1. First posted10 Feb 2026
2. Study start1 Jun 2025
3. Primary completion1 Jun 2026 (estimated)
4. Study completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)

Resources

• Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
• Other trials for Postherpetic NeuralgiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
• What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.